It’s puzzling why movies like "Alice Sweet Alice" aren’t talked about more than they deserve. The fact that this film has been largely ignored makes me think a lot of newer horror enthusiasts are missing out on something truly special. I suspect it's because people often praise films that attempt to be symbolic and subtle, even if those attempts fall flat. It’s difficult for me to accept the idea that this movie was inspired by Nicolas Roeg’s "Don't Look Now," because honestly, the only connection I can see is the repeated use of raincoats as a visual motif. The main difference between these two films lies in what I mentioned earlier: “Don’t Look Now” offers a flimsy justification for a horror film filled with fake symbolism and confusing games, while "Alice Sweet Alice" delivers straightforward, raw horror at its best, complete with a satisfying twist at the end. I realize this was an independent horror film that probably didn't receive much attention initially, but I really don’t understand why. This is one of those films from the mid-1970s where the stories appear simple on the surface and the ending might seem predictable. In "Alice Sweet Alice," the focus is primarily on the main character's psychology: Alice Spages (Paula Sheppard), a shy 12-year-old girl who lives with her mother (Linda Miller) and her indulged younger sister, Karen (Brooke Shields). We see Alice as an outcast constantly seeking her mother’s attention by mistreating her sister, who is clearly the favored child. Unfortunately for Alice, her sweet sister Karen is brutally murdered during her first communion by a ruthless killer wearing a mask and a yellow raincoat. As you might expect, suspicion immediately falls on Alice, given her jealousy and withdrawn behavior, which seem to fit with her sister's shocking death. Despite Alice’s obvious distress, her mother refuses to believe that her daughter could be a murderer and defends her against anyone who questions her innocence. Sadly, Alice's violent tendencies and the mounting evidence don't help her case. While Mrs. Spages and her former husband Dom desperately try to convince everyone that their sweet Alice isn’t a young killer, the death toll rises in increasingly horrific ways, and the victims are coincidentally Alice's perceived rivals. While it could be considered an overlooked slasher film, I find it compelling enough to compare it with some of the most respected horror movies around today. Nevertheless, "Alice Sweet Alice" is simple in its filmmaking style, and that lack of pretension has made it forgettable for some serious moviegoers. All I know is that this film will be appreciated by most horror fans and anyone looking for a well-made psychological horror gem that doesn't try to complicate things or trick the audience into thinking there’s hidden symbolism. It’s a horror film with violent murders and a significant number of deaths, without resorting to pointless gore. The psychological aspect is also present, but director Alfred Sole didn’t feel the need to flaunt it or mislead viewers with confusing scenes.

Source on TMDB